Almost doesn't count.
Los Angeles came within 10 outs of sweeping the Washington Nationals in the Nation's capital, but Ryan Zimmerman hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth and the Dodgers dropped the finale of the series, 7-1, on Sunday night.
Washington entered the bottom of the sixth inning trailing 1-0, but after a leadoff walk from Anthony Rendon, followed by a single for Daniel Murphy, Zimmerman sent a slider from Ross Stripling into the seats in center field for the game-winning homer.
Stripling came on in relief of Hyun-Jin Ryu in the bottom of the fifth inning, and escaped a bases loaded jam, but was not so fortunate in the sixth.
Ryu did not factor in the decision, but matched Stephen Strasburg pitch-for-pitch through the first five innings of the game.
The Korean leaft-hander allowed just three hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 4 and 2/3 scoreless inning.
Sports
Get today's sports news out of Los Angeles. Here's the latest on the Dodgers, Lakers, Angels, Kings, Galaxy, LAFC, USC, UCLA and more LA teams.
Strasburg was better, allowing just one run on three hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in six strong innings.
The Dodgers only run of the game came in the second inning when Logan Forsythe hit an RBI double off the glove of center fielder Michael A. Taylor that scored Yasiel Puig.
Washington added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI double by Anthony Rendon and in the eighth on another homer by Zimmerman.
Not to be outdone, left-hander Adam Lind hit a pinch-hit two run home run to put the game out of reach.
The loss was only the 18th time the Dodgers have blown a lead of any kind this season, the fewest in MLB.
The loss snaps the Dodgers four-game winning streak and evens the season series with Washington at three games apiece.
The Arizona Diamondbacks lost earlier in the day, lowering the Dodgers Magic Number to clinch the National League West to four games.
Up Next:
The Dodgers will take the train over to Philadelphia after the game where Clayton Kershaw will start against RHP Nick Pivetta of the Phillies at 4:05PM PST on Monday.
Please refresh this page for more updates, stats, and player reactions…
